Answer:
After the birth of James II's son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who was viewed as a Catholic heir, Parliament took decisive action to prevent the establishment of a Roman Catholic dynasty in England. The birth of James's son intensified concerns among the Protestant majority about the future of the monarchy and the potential suppression of their religious liberties. Here are the key steps taken by Parliament to address this issue:
1. Invitation to William of Orange: Concerned about the prospect of a Catholic succession, key nobles, politicians, and members of the clergy reached out to William of Orange, who was Protestant and married to James II's Protestant daughter Mary. They invited William to invade England and assume the throne. This invitation was aimed at ensuring a Protestant succession and preventing a Catholic dynasty.
2. Declaration of the "Vacant" Throne: In response to the invitation to William of Orange, Parliament declared that James II had effectively abdicated by fleeing the country, leaving the throne vacant. This declaration cleared the path for William and Mary to assume the throne.
3. Bill of Rights: After William and Mary arrived in England and were recognized as joint monarchs, Parliament passed the Bill of Rights in 1689. This act established several constitutional principles and limited the power of the monarchy. It affirmed the rights and liberties of Parliament, including the right to make laws, the right to petition the monarch, and protections against excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishment, and the imposition of taxes without parliamentary consent. The Bill of Rights also prohibited Catholics or those married to Catholics from ascending the throne.
4. Act of Settlement: In 1701, Parliament passed the Act of Settlement, which further solidified the Protestant succession and excluded Catholics from the line of succession. This act stipulated that only Protestant heirs or those married to Protestants could inherit the English throne. It aimed to prevent the possibility of a Catholic monarch and safeguarded Protestantism as the established religion.
These measures, including the invitation to William of Orange, the declaration of the "vacant" throne, the Bill of Rights, and the Act of Settlement, collectively ensured that the English monarchy would be Protestant and prevented the establishment of a Roman Catholic dynasty. They laid the foundation for a constitutional monarchy in which the authority of the monarch was limited by law and subject to parliamentary consent.